Police Beat and Community Briefs for Nov. 1

Published: Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 1:26 a.m.

POLICE BEAT

Cause of woman's death still unknown

An official cause of death involving an 87-year-old woman found face down in a retention pond not far from a veterans retirement home where she lived probably won't be known pending the results of a toxicology report, according to sheriff's officials.

Authorities said on Saturday they do not have any evidence that indicates Violet May Gammons' death was a result of foul play.

However, they say they're still continuing their investigation and looking at all avenues to see if the death could have been accidental or suicide.

After not showing up for breakfast or lunch on Friday, Gammons, a five-year resident of VFW Retirement Home in Fort McCoy, was discovered face-down approximately 10 feet from the shore by staff.

She was clothed at the time her body was found, officials say.

Marion County Fire Rescue officials arrived at the location, roughly 350 yards away from the home, around 12:50 p.m. and retrieved the elderly woman from the water.

Officials say they recovered a note from Gammons' room and it states if she was not in her room, she would be in the retention pond.

Authorities say they're unsure what the note meant.

Jack McDermott, president of the board of directors for the retirement home, said Friday that residents of the home routinely sign a sheet when they visit the dining room for a meal.

McDermott said Gammons loved to walk and sit and talk with people.

He said she was the widow of a World War II Army veteran, but that her husband had not lived at the home.

McDermott said this is the first incident of this nature in the home's 15-year history.

Police searching for robber of home

Police are looking for the person who robbed an elderly man at a rooming house on Friday.

The 77-year-old victim told officers he was exiting his bedroom when a man entered his room through the front door, closed it, pushed him onto the bed and demanded money.

The victim said the man reached into his pants as if he had a gun.

No gun was displayed, officials say.

The man said he screamed for help and when someone tried opening the front door, the would-be robber fled through a back door empty-handed.

The incident, which occurred in the 200 block of Northwest 16th Court, was reported at 1:30 p.m.

Anyone with any information about this case can call the Ocala Police Department at 369-7000, Crime Line at 369-7061, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.

Man accused of letting child drive

A 31-year-old Ocala man has been accused of allowing a 9-year-old boy to drive him around a mobile home park while he was sitting in the passenger seat and while the man was intoxicated, according to officials.

Roger Dean Knutson was arrested on Friday and charged with child abuse and permitting an unauthorized person to drive, according to officials.

When a deputy arrived at Westwood Mobile Home Park, the juvenile told the official he drove Knutson around the area.

Knutson told the deputy that the boy was sitting on his lap and turning the steering wheel, while Knutson was operating the brake and the accelerator.

The deputy noted in his report that Knutson's breath smelled of alcohol.

When asked if he had been drinking, Knutson told the official he'd had seven beers.

According to the deputy, the park manager saw the boy driving the brown, two-door 1974 Thunderbird and Knutson was in the passenger seat.

The manager said several people complained to her about the incident.

Knutson was then arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.

The Department of Children and Families was notified.

Police: Man tried to hide in bathroom

OCKLAWAHA — Sheriff's deputies arrested a 39-year-old Ocklawaha man Friday and charged him with possession of cocaine with the intent to sell, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, according to officials.

Arriving at the 12400 block of Southeast 142nd Avenue to serve an arrest warrant, deputies noticed the front door was ajar and heard someone running inside.

Thinking someone may be stealing items from the home, deputies said they went inside and found Duane Welcome, convicted in 2001 for distribution of cocaine, hiding in a bathroom.

While inside, officials said they found four large pieces of crack cocaine that was ready for sale and 27 rounds of .22-caliber ammunition.

They said they also found marijuana.

Welcome, who was served arrest warrants for child support and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, was then arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.

Police: Tires, rims stolen from SUV

Police responded to an apartment complex Friday after reports that an SUV was being stripped of its tires, rims, stereo equipment and other electronics worth close to $3,000.

The victim, owner of a 2003 Ford Explorer, told officers when she went outside, she noticed her vehicle was sitting on pinkish color landscape pavers and it had been burglarized.

Four tires, rims — the lug nuts were left on the pavement — a radio, CD/DVD player, television screen and a Nintendo game console were all stolen from the vehicle.

The incident occurred at Paddock Park Apartments, and it was reported to authorities at about 7:15 a.m.

Anyone with any information about this case can call the Ocala Police Department at 369-7000, Crime Line at 369-7061, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.

COMMUNITY

Heagy Burry Park to be closed temporarily

ORANGE LAKE - Marion County Parks and Recreation will temporarily close Heagy Burry Park, at 5040 N.W. 191 St. Place, this Monday through Friday to repair dirt washouts and potholes at the boat ramp and parking area.

<p class="bold allcaps">POLICE BEAT</p>
<p><b>Cause of woman's death still unknown</b></p><p>An official cause of death involving an 87-year-old woman found face down in a retention pond not far from a veterans retirement home where she lived probably won't be known pending the results of a toxicology report, according to sheriff's officials.</p><p>Authorities said on Saturday they do not have any evidence that indicates Violet May Gammons' death was a result of foul play.</p><p>However, they say they're still continuing their investigation and looking at all avenues to see if the death could have been accidental or suicide.</p><p>After not showing up for breakfast or lunch on Friday, Gammons, a five-year resident of VFW Retirement Home in Fort McCoy, was discovered face-down approximately 10 feet from the shore by staff.</p><p>She was clothed at the time her body was found, officials say.</p><p>Marion County Fire Rescue officials arrived at the location, roughly 350 yards away from the home, around 12:50 p.m. and retrieved the elderly woman from the water.</p><p>Officials say they recovered a note from Gammons' room and it states if she was not in her room, she would be in the retention pond.</p><p>Authorities say they're unsure what the note meant. </p><p>Jack McDermott, president of the board of directors for the retirement home, said Friday that residents of the home routinely sign a sheet when they visit the dining room for a meal.</p><p>McDermott said Gammons loved to walk and sit and talk with people.</p><p>He said she was the widow of a World War II Army veteran, but that her husband had not lived at the home.</p><p>McDermott said this is the first incident of this nature in the home's 15-year history.</p><p><b>Police searching for robber of home</b></p><p>Police are looking for the person who robbed an elderly man at a rooming house on Friday.</p><p>The 77-year-old victim told officers he was exiting his bedroom when a man entered his room through the front door, closed it, pushed him onto the bed and demanded money.</p><p>The victim said the man reached into his pants as if he had a gun.</p><p>No gun was displayed, officials say.</p><p>The man said he screamed for help and when someone tried opening the front door, the would-be robber fled through a back door empty-handed.</p><p>The incident, which occurred in the 200 block of Northwest 16th Court, was reported at 1:30 p.m.</p><p>Anyone with any information about this case can call the Ocala Police Department at 369-7000, Crime Line at 369-7061, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.</p><p><b>Man accused of letting child drive</b></p><p>A 31-year-old Ocala man has been accused of allowing a 9-year-old boy to drive him around a mobile home park while he was sitting in the passenger seat and while the man was intoxicated, according to officials.</p><p>Roger Dean Knutson was arrested on Friday and charged with child abuse and permitting an unauthorized person to drive, according to officials.</p><p>When a deputy arrived at Westwood Mobile Home Park, the juvenile told the official he drove Knutson around the area.</p><p>Knutson told the deputy that the boy was sitting on his lap and turning the steering wheel, while Knutson was operating the brake and the accelerator.</p><p>The deputy noted in his report that Knutson's breath smelled of alcohol.</p><p>When asked if he had been drinking, Knutson told the official he'd had seven beers.</p><p>According to the deputy, the park manager saw the boy driving the brown, two-door 1974 Thunderbird and Knutson was in the passenger seat.</p><p>The manager said several people complained to her about the incident.</p><p>Knutson was then arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.</p><p>The Department of Children and Families was notified.</p><p><b>Police: Man tried to hide in bathroom</b></p><p>OCKLAWAHA  Sheriff's deputies arrested a 39-year-old Ocklawaha man Friday and charged him with possession of cocaine with the intent to sell, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, according to officials.</p><p>Arriving at the 12400 block of Southeast 142nd Avenue to serve an arrest warrant, deputies noticed the front door was ajar and heard someone running inside.</p><p>Thinking someone may be stealing items from the home, deputies said they went inside and found Duane Welcome, convicted in 2001 for distribution of cocaine, hiding in a bathroom.</p><p>While inside, officials said they found four large pieces of crack cocaine that was ready for sale and 27 rounds of .22-caliber ammunition.</p><p>They said they also found marijuana.</p><p>Welcome, who was served arrest warrants for child support and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, was then arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.</p><p><b>Police: Tires, rims stolen from SUV</b></p><p>Police responded to an apartment complex Friday after reports that an SUV was being stripped of its tires, rims, stereo equipment and other electronics worth close to $3,000.</p><p>The victim, owner of a 2003 Ford Explorer, told officers when she went outside, she noticed her vehicle was sitting on pinkish color landscape pavers and it had been burglarized.</p><p>Four tires, rims  the lug nuts were left on the pavement  a radio, CD/DVD player, television screen and a Nintendo game console were all stolen from the vehicle.</p><p>The incident occurred at Paddock Park Apartments, and it was reported to authorities at about 7:15 a.m.</p><p>Anyone with any information about this case can call the Ocala Police Department at 369-7000, Crime Line at 369-7061, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.</p><h3>COMMUNITY</h3>
<p><b>Heagy Burry Park to be closed temporarily</b></p><p>ORANGE LAKE - Marion County Parks and Recreation will temporarily close Heagy Burry Park, at 5040 N.W. 191 St. Place, this Monday through Friday to repair dirt washouts and potholes at the boat ramp and parking area.</p><p>For more information, call 671-8560 or visit www.marioncountyfl.org.</p>